| Project Dakota | |
| Developer: | Christopher Harris, Alek Patsouris |
| Latest Release Version: | PD_0.2XPAS (Windows XP), PD_0.103AS (Server 2003) |
| Latest Release Date: | 15 July 2008 |
| Operating System: | Windows XP, Server 2003 |
| Platform: | Microsoft Windows |
| Language: | English |
| Genre: | Software utility |
| License: | Freeware |
| Website: | Project Dakota Online |
Project Dakota was an alternative to Microsoft's Windows Update developed by Alek Patsouris & Christopher "doc" Harris to update a Windows XP system from a CD, USB drive or network drive, without the need to use the Windows Update website.
Distribution of the program started on 1 January 2008 at 12:00AM. As of November 2012 the project website states that the project has been retired completely.
Project Dakota was designed for:
Project Dakota is able to run from removable media such as CDs, DVDs and USB flash drives as well as being able to run from a Network (mapped drive) or local hard disk.
Project Dakota came about from seeing the need for a better method to update multiple school computers at once, and to keep track of the status of all computers. Project Dakota achieved this by creating text files that were uploaded to the schools server according to their hostname.[1]
When the project was adapted for general use, the project still generated the text file, but uploaded it to an FTP server with details about the hardware and what updates were installed. Many users assumed Project Dakota was obtaining their Windows Product key, but this was not the case.[2]
The Project was inspired by the song Dakota by the Stereophonics.[3]